Call Today: 212-233-1233

Does a Deed Need Witnesses in New York City?

A New York deed is a legal instrument used when transferring title or property rights to real property. New York law requires that the grantor/seller (the individual making the transfer) sign the deed. The deed must be signed and acknowledged before a qualified New York notary public. If signed and notarized outside the United States, except for Canada, the deed must include a certificate of authentication. If signed in another state, then a certified acknowledgment that the deed was signed in conformity to the laws of the state where the deed was signed is sufficient. Unlike a will, a New York deed does not need to be witnessed.

Normally the grantor/seller is the only person who needs to sign the deed. The signature must be an original signature. Also, a valid deed must contain a legal description of the property and contain the names and addresses of all parties referenced in the document. The deed must be delivered/received by the grantee (person receiving the property) and recorded in the county where the property is located or it will be considered void. County transfer taxes are paid on consideration of $500.00 or more and vary by county. There is also a state transfer tax that is paid. A New York property transfer and estate attorney can advise you regarding the legal provisions that must be contained in a deed and the amount of transfer taxes and recording fees.

Transferring property belonging to New York decedent

If the New York owner of property passes away, the survivor may receive the property through survivorship rights. The executor or personal representative may execute an executor’s deed or fiduciary deed disposing of the decedent’s property by transferring the property to the person or person’s named in the decedent’s will.

Warranty Deed and Quit Claim Deed

A warranty deed is used most frequently when conveying an interest in real property. A quitclaim deed is often used most often in divorce cases when one spouse is transferring ownership to the other without making any warranties.

New York deed property transfer and estate attorney

For questions concerning the preparation of execution of a New York deed, it is recommended that you speak with a New York deed property transfer/estate attorney. The attorney can help transfer the property by preparing the transfer deed and making sure that it contains all the necessary provisions required under New York State and local laws. The attorney can also submit the deed to the county recorder’s office for recording for you.

If you wish to speak to a New York estate attorney, call the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin at (212) 233-1233.

Attorney Albert Goodwin

About the Author

Albert Goodwin Esq. is a licenced New York attorney with over 17 years of courtroom experience. His extensive knowledge and expertise make him well-qualified to write authoritative articles on a wide range of legal topics. He can be reached at 212-233-1233 or [email protected].


Warning: session_start(): Session cannot be started after headers have already been sent in /home/bounce28/public_html/widgets/contact-form.php on line 2

Contact Us









Albert Goodwin gave interviews to and appeared on the following media outlets:

ProPublica Forbes ABC CNBC CBS NBC News Discovery Wall Street Journal NPR

Client Reviews

Verified feedback from our clients

Mr. Goodwin is everything you want in an attorney: professional, honest, thorough, and genuinely caring. He always explains things clearly, so I understood exactly what was happening and what to expect next. His attention to detail and persistence really stood out. Looking back, I feel lucky to have found him. He guided me through the whole process expertly, and I deeply appreciate all his hard work. Would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.

Sarah M

Legal Services

Thanks to Mr. Albert Goodwin's hard work and smart thinking, I finally won my case, which has been a long time coming. He figured out solutions that no one else could see. I'm really impressed by his strong ethics - something that's rare these days. As my lawyer, he went above and beyond what I expected. I'm so grateful I found him and would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.

Lawrence H

Legal Services

From our first meeting, I knew I was in great hands with Albert and his associate Katrina. They handled my case with incredible skill and efficiency, even though they took it over from another firm. What impressed me most was how quickly Albert responded to my questions with honest, clear answers - no sugarcoating, just straight talk. They managed a huge workload under tight deadlines, and their fees were very reasonable for such high-quality work. Beyond his legal expertise, Albert's wit and personality made a difficult process much easier to handle. I'm deeply grateful for their hard work and would absolutely choose them again. If you need legal help in New York, you won't find better representation than Albert's firm.

Adam F

Legal Services

VIEW MORE
New York State Bar Association Member Badge New York City Bar Association Member Badge American Bar Association Member Badge Avvo Rated Attorney Badge